Coronation Street fans spot huge 'plot hole' as Nathan Curtis returns in Lauren storyline

Coronation Street viewers were less than impressed on Wednesday night as they saw evil Nathan Curtis (played by Chris Harper) return to the ITV soap. The last time fans saw him in the programme was back in 2017, before he was put behind bars.

Nathan was jailed for being involved in a child sex grooming gang, which saw him manipulate teen Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon). Although he was sentenced to prison, the soap villain made an unexpected return this week.

Bethany was horrified when she spotted a hooded Nathan in the crowd where the media were reenacting missing Lauren Bolton's (Cait Fitton) last known movements. Visibly shaken, she rushed home and confided in her boyfriend Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard).

However, viewers watching were quick to spot a major plot hole in Nathan’s return. Taking to Twitter, @itzzzo_ said: “Bethany would’ve been informed that Nathan was being released?”

@RyanTheSoapking asked: “Why did nobody tell Bethany that Nathan got released?” With @matt_johnson_89 commenting: “Daniel pointing out the massive plot hole that surely Bethany should've been told about Nathan being released.”

@tamlizann25 tweeted: “How is Nathan out and why was Bethany not informed, inept soap policing as usual, where is the justice #Corrie”

Another user wrote: “Wouldn't the police have had to tell Bethany about him being released?”

While @DionPetrie asked: “So why didn’t the police tell her he was out.”

Although Bethany was adamant she’d seen Nathan at the reenactment, Daniel wasn’t so sure.

As Daniel highlighted that it couldn’t have been Nathan as he is in prison, she broke down in tears.

Bethany said: “He’s supposed to be, but it was him. He was right there, I saw him, Daniel, I saw him.”

Later on in the episode, Bethany explained that since her abuse years ago, she often imagines seeing Nathan in public but is reassured that he’s locked up.

She continued: “Usually, when I look away and I look back again, he’s turned into somebody else and I take three deep breaths, I remind myself that he’s in prison and I get on with my day.

“But this time when I looked away and I looked back again, it was still him.”

Suggesting it could be someone who looked similar to him, Bethany was furious as she told Daniel she’d never forget his face.

However, her boyfriend mentioned Lauren’s case could be bringing up old and painful memories for her which is manifesting into her seeing things.

What Daniel doesn’t know is that Bethany is telling the truth, she did see Nathan, as ITV has confirmed the soap villain is back.

Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV from 8pm.